Microwave cooking package

Abstract

Microwave cooking packages suitable for use as microwave popcorn packages include at least one panel (e.g., first and second panels) formed of a vertically rigid material. A flexible portion is attached to the panels. The flexible portion may be formed of a polyester film material such as a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which may be at least partially transparent. The flexible portion (and panels) defines a bag construction configured to contain a popcorn charge and to be expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration when the popcorn charge is subjected to a popping operation. The microwave cooking package may include a vent assembly configured to at least partially open when the bag configuration is in an expanded configuration to vent the bag construction. The vent assembly includes a first portion a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An expandable package enclosing an expandable food product, comprising:
 a ridged bottom panel having edge portions, wherein the bottom panel includes a layer of paperboard and a patch having grease resistant paper, wherein a microwave interactive material is sealed between the layer of paperboard and the patch by an adhesive between the paperboard and the patch;   a single flexible bag construction having a gusset portion and a top portion, wherein the gusset portion has a first end portion and second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the gusset portion is sealed to edge portions of the ridge bottom panel, wherein the top portion extends between the second end portion of the gusset portion.   
       adhered to the edge portions of the ridged bottom panel, wherein the singe flexible bag construction includes a plurality of gussets; and
 a charge of expandable food positioned on the patch over the microwave interactive material. 
 
     
     
         22 . The expandable package of  claim 21 , wherein the flexible bag construction is fabricated of a polyester film material. 
     
     
         23 . The expandable package of  claim 22 , wherein the polyester film material comprises biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         24 . The expandable package of  claim 21 , wherein the flexible bag construction is scored to facilitate removal of a portion of the gusset portion. 
     
     
         25 . The expandable package of  claim 21 , wherein the microwave interactive material comprises a low optical density microwave susceptor. 
     
     
         26 . The expandable package of  claim 21 , wherein the microwave interactive material comprises a patterned microwave susceptor. 
     
     
         27 . The expandable package of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of vent slots configured to furnish venting of the flexible bag construction. 
     
     
         28 . The expandable package of  claim 27 , wherein the vent slots are comprised of lines scored in the polyester film that open to vent the flexible bag construction. 
     
     
         29 . An expandable package, comprising:
 a ridged bottom panel having edge portions, wherein the bottom panel includes a layer of paperboard and a patch having grease resistant paper, wherein a microwave interactive material is sealed between the layer of paperboard and the patch by an adhesive between the paperboard and the patch; and   a single flexible bag construction having a gusset portion and a top portion, wherein the gusset portion has a first end portion and second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the gusset portion is sealed to edge portions of the ridge bottom panel, wherein the top portion extends between the second end portion of the gusset portion.   
       adhered to the edge portions of the ridged bottom panel, wherein the singe flexible bag construction includes a plurality of gussets. 
     
     
         30 . The expandable package of  claim 29 , wherein the flexible bag construction is fabricated of a polyester film material. 
     
     
         31 . The expandable package of  claim 30 , wherein the polyester film material comprises biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         32 . The expandable package of  claim 29 , wherein the flexible bag construction is scored to facilitate removal of a portion of the gusset portion. 
     
     
         33 . The expandable package of  claim 29 , wherein the microwave interactive material comprises a low optical density microwave susceptor. 
     
     
         34 . The expandable package of  claim 29 , wherein the microwave interactive material comprises a patterned microwave susceptor. 
     
     
         35 . The expandable package of  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of vent slots configured to furnish venting of the flexible bag construction. 
     
     
         36 . The expandable package of  claim 35 , wherein the vent slots are comprised of lines scored in the polyester film that open to vent the flexible bag construction. 
     
     
         37 . An expandable package, comprising:
 a ridged bottom panel having edge portions, wherein the bottom panel includes a layer of paperboard; and   a single flexible bag construction having a gusset portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion includes a microwave interactive material, wherein the bottom portion is adhered to the ridged bottom panel to seal the microwave interactive material between the ridged bottom portion and the bottom portion of the flexible bag construction, wherein the gusset portion extends upwardly from the bottom portion and the top portion extends between the gusset portion.   
     
     
         38 . The expandable package of  claim 27 , wherein the flexible bag construction is fabricated of a polyester film material. 
     
     
         39 . The expandable package of  claim 38 , wherein the polyester film material comprises biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     
     
         40 . The expandable package of  claim 39 , further comprising a plurality of vent slots configured to furnish venting of the flexible bag construction.